Inside Look: Google's Help Me Write in Google Docs

Google introduced at Google IO 2023 the new Google Docs feature, Help Me Write.

Help Me Writes helps use gen-AI to create content and write elements of your writing for you, much like the AI tools that are whirling around the productivity space right now.

How to Get Help Me Write in Google Docs

For Google Workspace users, your admin on Google Dashboard needs to approve of this across your Google Workspace. However, you can "express interest" to submit this to your Google Workspace admin and once they do get accepted they can apply Google Docs side.

As this is not yet a fully fledged Google Docs feature, it lives as part of Google Labs.

However, if you are a solo user to Google - you can get access to this by just agreeing to their terms and conditions for testing the new Help Me Write function. This can be done on solo Google accounts, we were able to do this with no approval needed.

Head to Google Labs to get access and check what account you are logged into.

How "Help Me Write" works in Google Docs

Okay, good news, you're into the new Google Docs experimental feature. Let's explore.

To show you how Google's new Docs feature works, let's show you some of the key features and inside Google Help Me Write.

1. Hide & Show Help Me Write

This feature can be used within email and you can hit the "x" on the side to minimise it, this helps if you didn't want to use it right away. Think of this as a sidebar experience to access Help Me Write at any time throughout your Google Doc.

2. Insert Your Prompt

You can open it up and write a clear prompt. The better you prompt, the better the outcome of the gen-AI writing. So in this case, we've gone with a job outline using Help Me Write.

3. Evaluate the Gen-AI Output

This new gen-AI feature helps to produce the AI output which is the job outline. Make sure you check it and you can evaluate how it works best with "refine" or "re-create" inside.

4. Refine Your AI Output

This will help you to refine by formalising output, or shortening, expanding or re-phrasing. Remember AI won't get everything right. So using refinement is key.

5. Insert Your AI Help Me Write

If you're happy, you can hit insert using Google Help Me Write and it will add into the content element of your Google Docs file.

How to Send an Email Using Google Docs, Gmail & AI

Okay, we're going to get smart here. If you're in a team and you want to pre-approve an email copy, with the help of AI - buckle up folks.

1. Prepare your Email Prompt

Send a recommended prompt to the Help Me Write tool.

2. Go to INSERT > BUILDING BLOCKS > EMAIL DRAFT

With the output added to your document, go to insert and grab the email draft tool.

3. Copy & Check Email

Check your email and copy and paste into the building block, email draft.

4. Hit the Gmail Preview

Preview your email created with Google Labs Help Me Write and send, if you want.

And that's how to write an email within Google Docs, collaboratively, using AI & Gmail.